Hopper outlet gate control mechanism



Nov. 6, 1962 G. w. LOOMIS 3,052,062

HOPPER OUTLET GATE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed July so, 1959 United StatesPatent 3,062,062 HOPPER OUTLET GATE CONTROL MECHANISM George W. Loomis,General Delivery, Cardston, Alberta, Canada Filed July 30, 1959, Ser.No. 830,670 1 Claim. (Cl. 74-110) This invention relates to new anduseful improvements in fertilizer and seed distributors, and inparticular concerns itself with such distributors having a hopperequipped with a slidable outlet gate.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an eflicient controlmechanism whereby the hopper outlet gate may be slid between open andclosed positions.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a controlmechanism whereby the sliding of the outlet gate is effected with a snapaction.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a device of thecharacter herewithin described which is simple in construction,economical in manufacture, and otherwise well suited to the purpose forwhich it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects andadvantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to whichthis invention relates as this specification proceeds, my inventionconsists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all ashereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the control mechanism at theoutlet of a hopper.

FIGURE 2. is a top plan view of the mechanism per se.

In the drawings, like characters of reference are used to designatecorresponding parts.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the invention comprises acontrol mechanism for a slidable outlet gate 55 at the bottom 20 of aseed or fertilizer hopper 18. A stationary plate 42 is held underneaththe hopper bottom 20 by means of a bracket 43 extending from a suitableframe and this plate 42 is welded to the bracket 43.

This bracket 43 extends upwardly and is apertured to receive slideablythe mechanism 44.

This mechanism consists of an elongated bar 45 slotted at one end as at46 and provided with parallel ribs 47 upon both sides thereof thusforming elongated slots 48 between the bar 45 and the ribs 47.

A rope 48 extends from the end 49 of the bar 45 to adjacent the operatorand a spring 50 extends from a point 51 on the bar rearwardly to aconvenient anchorage on the frame thus normally biasing the mechanism inthe direction of arrow 52 unless the rope 48 is pulled by the operatoragainst the tension of the spring 50.

A cross bar 53 is pivoted freely within slot 46 by means of pin 54 andthe hopper shut-off gate 55 is freely connected by means of pin 56 uponone side of this cross bar 53.

A pair of arms 57 and 58 are pivotally connected by one end thereof tothe ends of the cross bar 53 by means of pins 59 and a spring 60extending between these arms biases the other ends 61 toward oneanother.

These ends 61 are provided with pins 62 extending within the slots 48within which they are adapted to move longitudinally.

The bar or strap 45 is provided with a pair of ratchet "ice notches 63one upon each side thereof within Which either of the pins 62 is adaptedto engage depending upon the positioning of the device as willhereinafter be described.

Finally a further spring 64 extends from one of the pins 59 transverselyacross to an anchorage point 65 acting as an over-center snap springdepending upon the inclination of the cross bar 53.

In operation, the device is normally held in the direction of arrow 52by means of spring 50. Assuming that the device is positioned as shownin FIGURE 2, with the hopper gate 55 open, movement of the rope 48 in adirection opposite to arrow 52 will cause the bar 45 to move in the samedirection and as the left hand pin 62 is engaged within notch 63, thispin together with the bar 58 will also be moved in this direction thuspivoting the cross bar 53 around pin 54. Due to the fact that pins 62are situated oif center, the rounded portions 66 of the links 57 and 58will rub as they pass one another thus maintaining the right hand pin 62out of engagement of its corresponding notch 63.

As the cross bar 53 is tilted over center the spring 64 snaps themechanism fully over so that it takes up the position opposite to thatshown in FIGURE 2 and with the gate 55 closed.

Release of the rope 48, causes the spring 50 to move the mechanism againin the direction of arrow 52 and this time the right hand pin 62 engageswith the notch 63 and pushes the left hand pin 62 out of engagement sothat the mechanism is ready for a reversal of action as soon as the rope48 is pulled again.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabovedescribed, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same madewithin the spirit and scope of the claim without departing from suchspirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in theaccompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only andnot in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

A snap action control mechanisms for a slidable hopper outlet gate, saidmechanism comprising in combination a stationary support, a fulcrum pinprovided thereon, an elongated plate provided in one end portion thereofwith a longitudinally extending slot slidably receiving said fulcrumpin, a pair of ribs disposed in spaced parallel relation at oppositeside edges of the other end portion of said plate and secured at theends thereof to said side edges whereby to provide a pair of parallelslots between said edges and the ribs, a transverse bar pivotal-1ymounted intermediate its ends On said fulcrum pin and adapted to beoperatively connected to a hopper outlet gate for sliding the samebetween open and closed positions, a pair of arms pivoted at one endthereof to the respective opposite ends of said bar, a pair of detentpins provided at the other end of said arms and slidable respectively insaid pair of parallel slots, said side edges of said plate beingprovided with notches communicating with said pair of parallel slots andselectively receiving said detent pins, the ends of said arms eguippedwith said detent pins being engageable with each other whereby only oneof the detent pins may be received in its associated notch at one time,resilient means connected to said arms for biasing said detent pins intosaid notches, resilient means connected to said plate for sliding thesame in one direction relative to said sta- Snyder Nov. 9, 1886 Hans eta1 May 2, 1905 Pape July 11, 1916 10 4 Delaney May 4, 1943 Games Aug.12, 1947 Bower May 4, 1948 Walters May 22, 1951 Alexander Aug. 16, 1955FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Jan. 13, 1886 Germany Jan. 2, 1925

